The 2024 China Open tennis tournament is serving up a significant boost to the nation's burgeoning sports consumption market amidst the National Day holiday celebrations.
The tournament, running from September 23 to October 6 in Beijing, has drawn top international talents and ignited a surge in fan engagement and spending.
Fans are flocking to the matches, contributing to a wave of consumer spending that extends beyond ticket sales.
"I think interest has grown a lot more in China. It's all sold out. So, I'm just doing a little shopping and I'll probably hang around, and just enjoy the atmosphere. A lot of people are enjoying themselves from babies to grandmas to 'Nainai' and 'Laolao (grandmothers).' Everybody is having fun," said one foreign visitor exploring China.
A young Chinese tennis fan echoed this sentiment.
"I feel the attendance is quite high because I couldn't get tickets in the past two days," she said.
Parents are also bringing their children to experience the electrifying atmosphere.
"My child is learning tennis, and I've brought her to experience the atmosphere of the China Open," said one father.
"The atmosphere is buzzing. Lots of people around here," said another foreign visitor.
Sponsor zones buzz with engaging activities, offering visitors a chance to dive deeper into the world of tennis - fans get to enjoy exclusive activities and brands get to connect with a passionate audience. This mutually beneficial relationship is a key driver of the sports consumption boom, turning spectators into active participants in the economic growth story.
"Currently, many items in the store are already running out or sold out. As of now, sales have exceeded 30,000 units. We anticipate that by the end of the event, the total sales volume will be around 50,000 units," said Mo Tianfei, store manager of China Open Official Store.
The strong performances of Chinese players, particularly rising star Zheng Qinwen—who won the gold medal in women's singles at the Paris Olympic Games—have further fueled the enthusiasm among fans. Many spectators indicated that their primary motivation for purchasing tickets was to see Zheng compete.
"All the big names are here from Osaka [Naomi Osaka] to Sabalenka [Aryna Sabalenka] and Coco [Coco Gauff]," said a foreign visitor, highlighting the global appeal of the tournament.
China Open tennis tournament ignites sports consumption surge during National Day Holiday
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
